Q & A

There's nothing interior designer Stephanie Barba Mendoza doesn't know about using colour and pattern, so we posed her the questions you ask us most

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When is it a good idea to colour drench?

I think there is a time and place for colour drenching, a term for when you take a paint up the walls and over the ceiling. Size is not something I'd worry about when wondering whether to drench - it's not true that strong colours make small spaces smaller. Instead, I use this technique when I'm trying to evoke a certain mood, to add vibrancy and warmth, for spaces in which I want to entertain and feel cosy. My living room is drenched in Dutch Orange by Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, a tone that is highlighted by the different glows from the many lamps. Where else would I colour drench? Cloakrooms are perfect - go dark for a sophisticated and glamorous take. And hallways and staircases work well too, those transitional areas which a strong colour can guide you through. I'm doing a project at the moment with an olive green staircase and although it's quite narrow, the colour feels so rich.